toshiba vs pioneer

[azurenights]

well I have to decide if I want a toshiba sd-1300 or a pioneer dv-343. Could you guys give me some pros and cons about each player to help me decide??? The reason why I have to choose is because I recently bought a multiregion toshiba sd-1300 and the problem I found with it is that it doesn't seem to play my svcds in synch. I tried the exact same disc on the pioneer dv-343 in the shop that sold me the toshiba and found that it did play the svcd in synch. If i do get the pioneer I know that I won't be able to play mp3s on it. That is one drawback. However I have heard that the pioneer 343 plays dvd-rw while the the toshiba sd-1300 doesn't. Is this true?? If it is possible could someone give me some links providing details of each player?? I also would like people's experiences with these players as well. Has anyone got a svcd to be in synch on a toshiba sd-1300?? If you have I would really be interested in having a chat!!! Thanks

PS I REALLY APPRECIATE ANY REPLYS ON THIS TOPIC

[nytr0x]

I'm thinking about the Pioneer too. Have you looked at vcdhelp.com? http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvdlist/288.html

[azurenights]

yeah i have looked at that but I would like more information about the toshiba sd-1300 but I can't find any websites that give information about how well it plays home made svcds and vcds and general cdr dvdr stuff. Do you know any??? thanks

[Matthew]

Don't you mean the 344? (you are in au?)

It's weird, because some people can play SVCDs in sync on the toshiba but others can't. I thought it might be that only multiregion toshibas will play them due to different firmware but your post discredits that.

I tried different media, different encoding, different burning menthods, different burners, different audio sampling rates and still couldn't get in-sync play :(

Anyway, the pioneer has difficulties with video bitrates over 2400 (with an audio bitrate of 224 anyway) but it plays my DVD2SVCD rips great...

[azurenights]

matthew I am in Australia and I think I should be referring to the pioneer dvd-344. Is there any difference between the 343 and the 344???? apart from the fact that one is us and the other is made in Australia?? Matt who are the people you know that can play svcds in synch?? I really would like to have a chat with them about it!! thanks

[Matthew]

The 343 and the 344 are basically the same AFAIK. I heard the 343 skips between chapters though (the 344 doesn't). I think the 343 also has a bitrate limit of 2600, which is a little higher than that of the 344.

As for people who have had no problems with svcd on the toshiba, there are some over at vcdhelp.com it seems (check the compatibility list).

And there is a guy called Stan who posts at ausforum.com sometimes. Here's the relevant thread. You may want to sign up and send him a PM.

http://www.ausforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=16413

[azurenights]

thanks for the tip Matt your posts are very useful!!!!!!! Thank you so much and I appreciate that you took time in reading my posts. I am going to join aus forums and maybe have a chat with stan. Thanks again

[azurenights]

matt I seen a multiregion pioneer dv-344 at jb hi fi for $475 AUD so what do you think????? good price??? not sure if it beats the new region coding though

[Matthew]

That's a good price in my opinion, I paid $500 before Christmas and that was a good deal at the time (most places it was $550, and $500 without multizone). Damn after Christmas sales :p

Don't know what you mean by the new region protection, to be honest, don't really care much about multizone.

If you get it just remember to keep the max video bitrate at 2400 (or perhaps a little higher, like 2450).